THE FLATS – Georgia Tech senior linebacker Charlie Thomas (Thomasville, Ga./Thomasville), redshirt junior running back Dontae Smith (Spring Hill, Tenn./Spring Hill) and sophomore offensive lineman Jordan Williams (Gainesville, Ga./Gainesville) have all been named to Athlon’s preseason all-Atlantic Coast Conference team. Thomas earned third-team honors, while Smith and Williams were both included on the fourth team.
A versatile defender, Thomas led Georgia Tech in both interceptions (2) and tackles for loss (10) a season ago, while also ranking second on the team in sacks (3) and quarterback hurries (3) and fourth in total tackles (70). He recorded double-digit tackles twice – against No. 6 Clemson and Duke – and was named ACC Linebacker of the Week after totaling eight tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks in Tech’s win over No. 20 North Carolina. Following the 2021 campaign, he was named third-team all-ACC by Pro Football Focus.
One of college football’s most under-the-radar dynamic players, Smith ran for 378 yards and a team-high-tying four touchdowns on just 68 carries (5.6 ypc), en route to second-team all-ACC honors from Pro Football Focus. He has led Georgia Tech in yards per rush each of the past two seasons and, for his career, his averaging a gaudy 6.1 yards per carry (739 yards on 121 carries) and a touchdown once every 15 carries (eight career TD).
Williams, a 6-6, 333-pound right tackle, has made 17 starts over his first two seasons at Georgia Tech. Before being limited to nine games due to injury last season, he appeared in all 10 games as a true freshman in 2020, when he helped pave the way for the Yellow Jackets to rank fourth in the ACC in fewest sacks allowed and fifth in the league in rushing.
Thomas, Smith, Williams and the Jackets open the season on Labor Day evening, Monday, Sept. 5, versus longtime ACC rival Clemson in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in downtown Atlanta. The game, which is the second edition of Tech’s six-year “Mayhem at Mercedes-Benz Stadium” series, kicks off at 8 p.m. and will be televised nationally on ESPN.
2022 GEORGIA TECH FOOTBALL SEASON TICKETS
With less than 100 days to go before Georgia Tech football’s highly anticipated season opener versus Clemson at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, now is the time to lock in on 2022 season tickets. The Yellow Jackets’ attractive 2022 home slate includes the Jackets’ Sept. 5 opener versus Clemson in the second edition of Tech’s “Mayhem at Mercedes-Benz Stadium” series, as well as showdowns with Ole Miss (Sept. 17), Virginia (Oct. 20) and Miami (Nov. 12) at Bobby Dodd Stadium.
Season tickets, which include all six games on the Jackets’ home schedule and exclusive perks such as exclusive concessions and merchandise discounts at Bobby Dodd Stadium, priority access to parking and tickets for away games and discounts on admission to the College Football Hall of Fame and Illuminarium Atlanta, begin at just $299.
To become a Georgia Tech football season ticket member, click HERE to purchase tickets online or click HERE to be contacted by a member of the Georgia Tech athletics tickets sales team. For more information, call the Georgia Tech athletics ticket office at 888-TECH-TIX or visit ramblinwreck.com/footballtickets.
Alexander-Tharpe Fund
The Alexander-Tharpe Fund is the fundraising arm of Georgia Tech athletics, providing scholarship, operations and facilities support for Georgia Tech’s 400-plus student-athletes. Be a part of developing Georgia Tech’s Everyday Champions and helping the Yellow Jackets compete for championships at the highest levels of college athletics by supporting the Annual Athletic Scholarship Fund, which directly provides scholarships for Georgia Tech student-athletes. To learn more about supporting the Yellow Jackets, visit atfund.org.
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